A weak warm front was stalled across central Georgia early on the 18th, and lifted north during the day as a wedge of cool high pressure remained in place across northeast Georgia. An area of low pressure along the Louisiana coast also drifted northeast during the day.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.
A weak warm front was stalled across central Georgia early on the 18th, and lifted north during the day as a wedge of cool high pressure remained in place across northeast Georgia. An area of low pressure along the Louisiana coast also drifted northeast during the day. All these factors combined to produce several showers and thunderstorms across all but northeast Georgia, with isolated damaging wind reports. Isolated flash flooding occurred in south Toombs County due to intense rainfall. Because of the low-level shear associated with the approaching surface low from Louisiana, one thunderstorm was briefly able to spin up a weak tornado in Heard County.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 18, 1:50 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 250 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... PRIMARY CONCERNS FOR THE SHORT TERM PERIOD WILL BE WHERE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN AXIS SETS UP AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AS A RESULT. AFTER A WET START TO THE DAY...ACTIVITY HAS DWINDLED FOR THE MOST PART WITH JUST SOME PASSING SHOWERS THROUGH THE ATLANTA METRO NOW HEADING INTO NORTHEAST GEORGIA. FOCUS NOW SHIFTS TO THE SOUTHEAST WHERE LOCAL WRF AND HRRR HAVE BEEN BEEN HONING IN ON WITH THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING NICELY OVER THE FAR SOUTHEAST AT THIS HOUR. SPC SREF SHOWS INSTABILITY INCREASING AS WARM FRONT EASES NORTHWARD WITH AREAS AROUND TOOMBS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES SHOWING IN EXCESS OF 1000 J/KG OF AVAILABLE CAPE. WOULD EXPECT A LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS TO DEVELOP IN THIS AREA AND PROGRESS TOWARD MACON LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY COULD FORM AHEAD OF THIS AS WELL IN THE MORE UNSTABLE SECTION FROM COLUMBUS TO JUST SOUTH OF ATHENS. ALSO WATCHING GULF INITIATED STORMS AS THESE LOOK TO AFFECT THE SOUTH AS WELL TONIGHT WITH STORMS ALREADY PUSHING INTO THE GEORGIA PORTION FROM THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THERE IS SOME DISPARITY IN SHORT TERM MODELS ON HOW THIS WILL EVENTUALLY EVOLVE THIS EVENING WITH NAM12 INDICATING MORE DEVELOPMENT ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE AREA VERSUS THE SOUTH. THIS UNCERTAINTY IS PROBLEMATIC GIVEN THE FLOOD WATCH ORIENTATION WHICH IS CURRENTLY OVER THE WEST. IF CURRENT TRENDS HOLD HOWEVER...THE SOUTHERN SECTIONS WOULD BE MORE UNDER THE GUN. WITH THE UNCERTAINTY INVOLVED...WILL LET THE EVENING SHIFT TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS DEVELOPING EVENT TO SEE IF FLOOD WATCH NEEDS TO CONTINUE AND FOR WHAT AREAS. FOR MONDAY...PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PATTERN BUT WITH WEDGE CONTINUING TO WEAKEN AND MORE MOISTURE AVAILABLE FOR THE NORTHERN ZONES AS WELL AS INSTABILITY. WENT LIKELY FOR MOST AREAS...FAVORING THE SOUTH ONCE AGAIN...CLOSER TO THE VICINITY OF STALLED OUT BOUNDARY. STILL USED SOME SLIGHT CAD INFLUENCES FOR THE HIGH TEMPS MONDAY BUT SHOULD WARM NICELY TO UPPER 70S NORTH TO LOWER 80S SOUTH. DEESE .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... BUMPED POPS UP SOME INTO THURSDAY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE VERY MOIST AIRMASS OVER THE AREA. OTHERWISE NO MAJOR CHANGES. BDL PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... THE WET PATTERN CONTINUES INTO THE EXTENDED. THE STATIONARY FRONT OVER SOUTH GA TODAY WILL MOVE SLOWLY NORTHWARD THROUGH MONDAY AND SHOULD BE SOME WHERE BETWEEN ATL AND MCN BY TUE MORNING. THIS FRONT WILL WEAKEN SOME BUT IT WILL STILL ACT AS A GUIDE FOR GULF MOISTURE TO MOVE NORTHWARD ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. THE WEDGE LOOKS TO FINALLY BREAK DOWN SOMETIME MONDAY WHICH WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR A MORE DIURNALLY DRIVEN PRECIP PATTERN THROUGH DAY 7. BEST TIMING FOR THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL BE IN THE SHORT TERM BUT DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE REMAINS OVER THE REGION THROUGH WED/THU WITH PRECIPITABLE WATERS IN THE 1.5 TO 2.0 INCH RANGE THROUGH THU. THE DEEPER MOISTURE MOVES NORTH AND EAST OF THE STATE BY THU NIGHT BUT THE DIURNAL CONVECTIVE TREND WILL CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEKEND. TEMPS WILL BEGIN TO REBOUND BY TUE AND BE BACK TO NEAR SEASONAL NORMS BY THU/FRI. 01 && .AVIATION... 18Z UPDATE... CHALLENGING FORECAST CYCLE AS WE DEAL WITH COOL HIGH PRESSURE FOR NORTHERN TAF SITES AND STATIONARY FRONT FOR THE SOUTHERN MOST SITES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SITES FROM ATL SOUTHWARD BECOMING MVFR THIS AFTERNOON WITH EVEN SOME VFR FOR CSG. EXPECT SITES NORTH OF ATL TO REMAIN A THOUSAND FEET OR LESS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING. ALL SITES WILL GO IFR BY LATE THIS EVENING AND THEN LIFR FOR THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. SHRA LOOK TO REDEVELOP BY THIS EVENING AS WELL AND HAVE INCLUDED TEMPO THROUGH 02Z FOR ALL SITES. //ATL CONFIDENCE...18Z UPDATE... MEDIUM ON ALL ELEMENTS DEESE && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 69 81 69 79 / 50 60 50 70 ATLANTA 69 79 70 79 / 70 50 40 60 BLAIRSVILLE 65 76 66 78 / 70 50 50 60 CARTERSVILLE 69 79 69 78 / 70 50 50 60 COLUMBUS 71 83 72 85 / 50 60 40 70 GAINESVILLE 68 78 69 76 / 70 50 50 70 MACON 70 82 70 82 / 40 60 40 60 ROME 69 80 70 80 / 70 50 50 60 PEACHTREE CITY 70 80 71 79 / 60 50 40 60 VIDALIA 72 86 72 86 / 40 60 40 40 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BARTOW...BIBB...BLECKLEY...BUTTS...CARROLL...CATOOSA... CHATTAHOOCHEE...CHATTOOGA...CHEROKEE...CLAYTON...COBB...COWETA... CRAWFORD...CRISP...DADE...DEKALB...DODGE...DOOLY...DOUGLAS... FANNIN...FAYETTE...FLOYD...GILMER...GORDON...HARALSON...HARRIS... HEARD...HENRY...HOUSTON...LAMAR...MACON...MARION...MERIWETHER... MONROE...MURRAY...MUSCOGEE...NORTH FULTON...PAULDING...PEACH... PICKENS...PIKE...POLK...PULASKI...ROCKDALE...SCHLEY...SOUTH FULTON...SPALDING...STEWART...SUMTER...TALBOT...TAYLOR... TELFAIR...TROUP...TWIGGS...UPSON...WALKER...WEBSTER... WHITFIELD...WILCOX. && SHORT TERM...DEESE LONG TERM....BDL AVIATION...DEESE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 430 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-191015- BALDWIN-BANKS-BARROW-BARTOW-BIBB-BLECKLEY-BUTTS-CARROLL-CATOOSA- CHATTAHOOCHEE-CHATTOOGA-CHEROKEE-CLARKE-CLAYTON-COBB-COWETA- CRAWFORD-CRISP-DADE-DAWSON-DEKALB-DODGE-DOOLY-DOUGLAS-EMANUEL- FANNIN-FAYETTE-FLOYD-FORSYTH-GILMER-GLASCOCK-GORDON-GREENE- GWINNETT-HALL-HANCOCK-HARALSON-HARRIS-HEARD-HENRY-HOUSTON-JACKSON- JASPER-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-JONES-LAMAR-LAURENS-LUMPKIN-MACON- MADISON-MARION-MERIWETHER-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-MORGAN-MURRAY- MUSCOGEE-NEWTON-NORTH FULTON-OCONEE-OGLETHORPE-PAULDING-PEACH- PICKENS-PIKE-POLK-PULASKI-PUTNAM-ROCKDALE-SCHLEY-SOUTH FULTON- SPALDING-STEWART-SUMTER-TALBOT-TALIAFERRO-TAYLOR-TELFAIR-TOOMBS- TOWNS-TREUTLEN-TROUP-TWIGGS-UNION-UPSON-WALKER-WALTON-WARREN- WASHINGTON-WEBSTER-WHEELER-WHITE-WHITFIELD-WILCOX-WILKES- WILKINSON- 430 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED WHICH MAY CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA...WITH ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT FROM ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS. DISCUSSION... A WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IS WEAKENING ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON WITH A WARM FRONT MOVING NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA INTO NORTH GEORGIA. THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING NORTH THROUGH TONIGHT. TROPICAL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE MAIN CONCERN REMAINS FLOODING ACROSS MOST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA...SEE THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH /FFAFFC/ FOR MORE DETAILS...HOWEVER MODERATE INSTABILITY AND SHEAR ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL PROVIDE A CHANCE FOR ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... HEAVY RAIN WITH LOCALIZED FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS WITH THE STRONGER STORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA CLOSE TO THE NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY DURING THE AFTERNOON PERIODS THROUGH THE MIDDLE O THE WEEK. DISCUSSION... A STATIONARY FRONT AND DEVELOPING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL BECOME THE FOCUS FOR A WET PERIOD AS DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE MOVES OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING THROUGH THURSDAY. A MORE DIURNALLY DRIVEN THUNDERSTORM PATTERN MAY RETURN BY THE END OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED BUT SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING THROUGH THE WEB BY GOING TO WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 253 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 GAZ105>108-181930- 253 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN IN WILCOX...PULASKI... CRISP AND DOOLY COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT... AT 251 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER TIPPETTVILLE...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. RUNOFF FROM THESE STORMS WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES ACROSS WILCOX...PULASKI...CRISP AND DOOLY COUNTIES...INCLUDING AREAS AROUND PLEASANT VIEW...TREMONT...TIPPETTVILLE...MOCK SPRINGS AND PINEHURST. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE SUBJECT TO MINOR FLOODING. && LAT...LON 3224 8379 3227 8353 3199 8351 3197 8372 TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 172DEG 9KT 3207 8363
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
317 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013
GAZ072-073-084-181945-
317 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN IN JONES...WILKINSON
AND BALDWIN COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
AT 315 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER GORDON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 35 MPH ARE LIKELY AS THIS STORM MOVES ACROSS JONES...
WILKINSON AND BALDWIN COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN
THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE GORDON...MOUNTAIN SPRINGS...GREENBERRY
CROSSROADS...JAMES...IVEY...ALLENWOOD...HARDWICK...SCOTTSBORO...
PANCRAS...COOPERS AND BROWNS CROSSING.
&&
LAT...LON 3282 8336 3282 8337 3289 8340 3288 8345
3294 8352 3314 8329 3297 8311
TIME...MOT...LOC 1918Z 229DEG 9KT 3293 8337SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 322 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 GAZ086-098-112-113-182000- 322 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN IN TREUTLEN... TOOMBS...MONTGOMERY AND EMANUEL COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM EDT... AT 321 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER HIGGSTON...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 35 MPH ARE LIKELY AS THIS STORM MOVES ACROSS TREUTLEN...TOOMBS...MONTGOMERY AND EMANUEL COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE SANTA CLAUS... VIDALIA...CENTER...HIGGSTON...NORMANTOWN...KIBBEE...FIVE POINTS... TARRYTOWN...ZAIDEE AND SOPERTON. && LAT...LON 3239 8265 3245 8239 3215 8232 3210 8252 TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 164DEG 13KT 3221 8245
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 343 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 GAZ061-073-074-084-182030- 343 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS IN WASHINGTON... WILKINSON...BALDWIN AND HANCOCK COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT... AT 340 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER PANCRAS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS WASHINGTON...WILKINSON...BALDWIN AND HANCOCK COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE ALLENWOOD... PANCRAS...COOPERS...SCOTTSBORO...HARDWICK...MILLEDGEVILLE... UNDERWOOD...BEULAH...DEVEREUX AND LINTON. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 3324 8305 3306 8290 3288 8326 3303 8338 TIME...MOT...LOC 1944Z 236DEG 17KT 3301 8322
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
415 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013
GAZ095-105-106-182045-
415 PM EDT SUN AUG 18 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN IN CRISP...DOOLY AND
HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...
AT 409 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM PINEHURST TO CORDELE...MOVING NORTH AT 10
MPH.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES HAVE FALLEN ACROSS THE AREA.
RAIN WILL BEGIN TAPERING OFF BUT ANOTHER INCH OR TWO CANNOT BE RULED
OUT OVER THE NEXT 30 TO 45 MINUTES. DRIVERS SHOULD USE EXTREME
CAUTION AS INTENSE RAINFALL WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES. PONDING OF
WATER ON ROADWAYS IS ALSO LIKELY...ESPECIALLY IN CITIES AND TOWNS
WHERE WATER MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DRAIN AS QUICKLY. THERE IS ALREADY
SIGNIFICANT PONDING IN THE CORDELE AREA. THIS INCLUDES AREAS AROUND
FORT EARLY...EAST CRISP...GEORGIA VETERANS MEMORIAL STATE PARK...
TREMONT...HATLEY...WENONA...RAINES...ARABI...TIPPETTVILLE...
RICHWOOD...UNADILLA...DRAYTON...FLINT RIVER WMA...PINEHURST AND
LILLY.
DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. TURN AROUND DO NOT DROWN.
&&
LAT...LON 3183 8388 3184 8394 3193 8392 3205 8398
3209 8398 3216 8403 3220 8401 3226 8395
3229 8390 3229 8385 3236 8385 3253 8361
3226 8360 3225 8362 3223 8360 3181 8361
3180 8380
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 194DEG 10KT 3221 8373 3204 8372
3197 8383The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:37 UTC.
2 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported several trees down along Linton Road.
A National Weather Service survey team determined that an EF0 tornado touched down just inside the Georgia-Alabama state line in Heard County. A mobile home sustained roof damage and its porch was destroyed as the tornado tracked northeastward, paralleling Upper Caldwell Road as it strengthened to an EF1. The most significant damage was as the tornado crossed Upper Caldwell Road, snapping dozens of trees. The tornado left a path 0.4 miles in length, weakening back to an EF0 with tree limbs down before it lifted. |[08/18/13: Tornado #1, County #1-1, EF1, Heard, 2013:013].
The Toombs County emergency manager reported flood waters from nearby creeks and streams overflowed portions of around 6 roads in the English Eddy area. This included portions of Georgia Highway 147 and Cedar Crossing Road.
The stage height at a USGS stream gage on the Little River at Georgia Highway 16 reached flood stage of 20 feet. Minor flooding occurred in the woodlands...fields and dirt access roads along the river.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2013Warnings in Georgia, August 2013
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 468210, 468211, 470440, 470449.